Head support



Dec.A 23, 1941.

R. A. IRELAND HEAD SUPPORT Filed Dec. 4, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 1 J. 2 5 f q wmx 6 A tlorney Dec. 23, 1941. R. A. IRELAND 2,267,103

HEAD SUPPORT Filed neo. 4, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 2 In ventor A orney Patented Dec. 23, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HEAD SUPPORT Ritchie A. Ireland, Charleston, W. Va. Application December 4, 1940, Serial No. 368,545

3 Claims. A (Cl. 155-177) This invention relates to head supports for various types of vehicles employed for the transa portation of persons and especially adaptable for use by persons who are traveling for long d1stances and desire to relax and rest.

The primary object of this invention is the provcasionedby sudden stops of the vehicle or an accident between the vehicle and another vehicle or an obstruction of some kind.

Another object of this invention is the provi.

sion of a device of the above stated character which may be readily adapted to a back rest of a seat or chair of a vehicle and easily removed when not desired and stored in a comparatively small space and which will provide a soft comfortable rest for the head capable of yielding to absorb shock and may be readily adjusted to suit the requirements of each individual desiring the use thereof.

With these and other objects in view as will bef come more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of partsuas will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating a head support and showing the application thereof to the back of a chair or seat of a vehicle and supporting a persons head.

Figure 2 is a frontelevation illustrating the support and showing its connection with a back rest.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view showing the device.

- Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the means of detachably connecting the rest to the back of the seat.

Figure 5 a. detail sectional view illustrating one of the head cushion or pillow elements.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral- 5 indicates an attaching sleeve secured in any suitable way to a back rest 6 of a seat or chair of a vehicle. As shown in the` drawings, thel sleeve may be substantially embedded in the upholstery of the back rest or may be secured on the exterior of the latterif so desired. The sleeve is for the purpose of removably receiving an up- 5 right 'I forming a part of a head rest 8. The up.

right 1 is provided with a series of openings 9. any one of which may receive a set screw I0 extending through the walls of the sleeve and having its nger piece conveniently arranged for manipulation. The set screw. threads into one of the walls of the sleeve after passing through the upright. This construction will permit adjustment of the head rest 8 upwardly and down wardly, and also will permit the complete detachment oithe head rest from the back of the seat for storage purposes when desired.

A substantially T-shaped spring member II including a leg portion I2 and arms portionsl3 is pivotally and detachably connectedto the upright 1. The pivotal detachable connection is indicated by the character I3' between the substantially T-shaped member and the upright and is of a type that will permit the T-shaped member to be adjusted forwardly and rearwardly with respect to the back of the seat or chair.

lPreferably said connection has the form of an adjustable hinge adapted to be held against adjustment by a thumb screw I3". The arm portions I3 extend in opposite directions and include arcuately curved extremities I4' having connected thereto by adjustable ball and socket joints I5 attaching plates I6. Secured on the attaching plates are head rest elements I1, each including a backing plate I8 and a cushion or pillow portion I9 provided with a concaved face 20. The backing plate I8 is secured to the attaching plate in any well known manner. The adjustable ball and socket joints I5 will permit the head rest elements I'I to be adjusted at diierent angular positions with respect to each other` so that the concaved faces of the pillow or cushion elements 20 may be arranged to comfortably receive the heads of different individuals.

Connected to the head cushion Aor pillow elements I9 is an elastic strip 2| which may be brought over the forehead of a persons head for comfortably retaining a personslieadin engagement with the cushion or pillow elements I9 relieving the person of any eiort'of keeping the head in 'contact therewith.

In use the device when applied to the back rest as clearly shown in Figure l may be easily and quickly adjusted to meet the needs of different individuals and with the head of the person resting thereon and held in engagement withthe pillow or cushion elements the person may comfortably relax to relieve fatigue and also the device will prevent the head from being suddenly jerked in case of an accident or sudden stopping of the vehicle which might subject the person to injury of the neck or other parts of the anatomy.

It is to be understood that the device may be quickly removed and stored in a comparatively small space when not needed cr desired.

While I havel shownand described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be .understood that minor'changes in construction,

combination and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having claim-is:

1. In a head support, an upright, means for detachably and adjustably securing said upright to the back of a seat, a substantially T-shaped spring member including a leg portion and arm portions and having the leg portion pvotally and detachably connected to the upright, said arm portions extending in opposite directions and including arcuately curved extremities, and head engaging elements adjustably connected to the extremities of the arm portions.

2. In a head support, an upright, means for detachably and adjustably securing said upright to the backl of a seat, a substantially T-shaped .thus described my invention, 'what -I` spring member including a. leg portion and arm portions and having the leg portion pivotally and detachably connected to the upright, said arm portions extending in opposite directions and including arcuatly curved extremities, cushionedhead engaging elements adjustably connected to the extremities of the arm portions and capable of being adjusted relative to eachother and v.sustained in their adjusted positions, and an elastic strip connecting the head engaging elements to be placed about a persons forehead to' sustain the head in engagement with the head engaging elements. y

d RITCHIE A. IRELAND. 

